Bus 1- Factory for the Blind and Chasdei Naomi
Bus 1 headed to the factory we mentioned yesterday, where they worked alongside the blind, deaf and mute. From there they traveled to Chasdei Naomi and helped pack food for shabbos. Great day!
Remembering a Gadol
Baruch Dayan Emes, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashuv passed away this afternoon. As the levaya (procession to burial) was said to attract close to 700,000 people all yearning to say their final goodbyes to one of the greatest Jewish leaders and sages of our generation, we chose to commemorate our loss on our own. We held a tehillim group tonight and learned a short Torah idea and a bit of history on Rav Elyashuv in order to remember this righteous man and all of his many accomplishments. We also remembered those who were lost today in the attack in Bulgaria and all of those other great gedolim (leaders) who have passed away recently (Rav Nosson Finkle, Rav Sheinberg, Rebetzin Kanievsky…) Let’s all try to increase our holiness and step up to these enormous shoes left to be filled.
Blind Museum- Dialogue in the Dark
Both groups enjoyed a delicious BBQ dinner in the park and a visit to the Blind Museum. This exhibit is led by blind tour guides who assist you in experiencing what it is like to be blind. The tour is given in complete darkness, requiring the girls to rely on other senses to engage with their environments and navigate the various stops along the tour. We walked through a simulated rainforest, motor boat, market, and even ended with a stop in the cafe in the dark to purchase some drinks and snacks. It was very surprising and interesting to experience life as one without vision might, and allowed us to be more sensitive to those who face this challenge in their lives.
Electives and the Olympics
This morning was spent at electives and was as awesome as ever.
We then had lunch in a beautiful park by the Kenesset and made our way back to Mevaseret for a fun, filled afternoon of… The Olympics (GIVE style)! From watermelon eating contests to sumo wrestling, from gymnastics to the boulder throw, from national anthems to national flags, we divided into 4 countries and battled out our very own version of the Olympics. Mazel tov to our Argentinean team on their victory this evening!
The evening concluded with a powerful speech from Rav Menachem Nissel, an NCSY favorite Rav who shared his life experiences with us and inspired us to take this time of the 9 days more seriously and to infuse it with kedusha.